Task force rejects flat 6‑unit rate and backs a more nuanced RM‑4 approach

The LMO Task Force polled members on whether to replace the RM‑4 sliding‑scale density with a flat 6 dwelling units per acre and then on a more nuanced, context‑sensitive approach. Facilitator notes and on‑screen tallies showed members were not comfortable switching to a simple 6 du/acre standard; a follow‑up question on a nuanced approach drew about 78–82% support in the meeting’s on‑the‑spot polling.

Staff told the task force that RM‑4 covers more than 1,500 acres (about 7% of the island) and that roughly 65% of parcels in RM‑4 are under 3 acres, which would default to 4 du/acre under the current sliding scale. A task‑force member who ran quick calculations said, “the current zoning allows a little over 7,800 units” and that a blanket 6 du/acre could raise that to about 9,600 in a full‑buildout scenario — an illustrative, not predictive, difference of roughly 1,800 units.

Why it matters: staff emphasized that density interacts with subdivision standards and open‑space rules, and that changing only the numeric density without changing design, open‑space and process standards could produce different outcomes than members expect. The task force directed staff to develop recommendations that account for surrounding neighborhood context and to return with a written summary before code drafting.

"If you feel like you don't have enough information, that's absolutely fine," the facilitator told members as staff promised a follow‑up summary. The task force’s direction gives staff a mandate to pursue contextual calibrations rather than a single flat rate.